Support for outlet boxes and the like



May 29, 1928.

J. Kozl-:LKA

SUPPORT FOR OUTLET BOXES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 2, 1926 IIIIIIII Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,611,767 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH xozELxA, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO, AssTCNoR To THE NEW ERA ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or' CLEVELAND, OHLO, A CORPORATION OE OHIO.

SUPPORT FOR OUTLET BOXES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed Januar-y IThis invention relates to improved means 'for supporting what are known as outlet boxes or receptacles thatarc used in the wiring of buildings or other structures for electric lights and the like.\ f

Briefly, outletv boxes form the junctions between'the adjacent sections of a conduit system through which the wires are run A and provide access to the wiring at various l0 points inV the ysystem' for vthe purposes of makingy connections-directing the wires fromY one conduit section to another, "and vfoi-"installing lfixtures'. Ordinarily, the Y boxes are sustained by supporting bars that are secured to` and extend between adjacent joists'or studs of the structure. Suitable members, usually incorporating iixture supporting studs, are sometimes employed for r'connecting theoutlet boxes or receptacles to the supporting bars, and it is to this vfeature of thevoutit that my invention particularly relates.` Y v The aim of the .invention is to provide n relatively cheap but thoroughly efficient means for connecting kan outlet box or receptacle to a supportingbar in any adjusted position along the bar, the nature of the invention making it unnecessary to employ `tools of any kind for 4securing the parts toi gether, thus `greatly facilitating the connection of the box or vreceptacle tothe barand thereby expediting the wiring operations. rMore vspecifioobjects are to provide an outlet box having an aperture in one of its lWalls andtonguesordepressions adjacent said aperture, and a member, preferably in the form of a fixture stud, having a yoke that is adapted to be extended through said aperturejand incorporating cam parte Vfor cooperation with said tongues or depressions whereby relative rotation between the box and member will tend to create axial movement of the member with respect to ythe box so that, when a supporting bar is extended throughthe yoke beyond the apertured wall of the box and the box yis rotated lwithA respect to the member it V`will clamp the parts firmly together. Also, to provide means for holding the `outlet boxr and mem'- ber against relative rotation when the parts are in clamped condition.

It is sometimes desirable to apply the outlet box or receptacle directly to a part ot the ybar intermediate itsY ends, as when the 5.5 bar is already secured to joists, studs, or the 2, 1926. Serial N0. 78,785.

like, or`when the ends of the bar are so formed that the member cannot be engaged over the end of the bar and slid therealong to its linal position. Another object of the invention, therefore, isto provide. a memberof the aforesaid character having an opening in a branch of itsyoke through which the bar may enter the yoke in a direction transversely of the bar.

Other and more detailed objects of the invention will appear as this description proceeds whereiny reference is made to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing, Fig. l .shows an outlet box secured to a supvporting bar by means of my invention, the box and attaching member being in central section; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown inFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on thefline 3 8 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the memberthrough which the box is clamped tothe supporting bar; and Fig. 5 is a View, similar to Fig. 3, of a modification. v'LThe Voutlet box, designated 1, is, in general, of usual form, the one shown being of the'shallow variety known ask pans It is comprised of a circular wall 2 and a peripheral flange 3. The circular wall has a central aperture 4, and tongues or depressions 5 are struck from said wall about the aperture4.v 6 isa supporting bar, which may be of any suitable form, the one herein shown being constructed of sheet metal having `,ther cross sectional shape disclosed in Figs. 3 and 5. YThe bar is `provided adjacentits ends' with holes 7 for the reception of nails or other fastening means by which it is adapted to be attached to joists, studs, or other structural elements.

The box is secured to the supporting bar by a member designated 10 which iscomprised of'a yoke 11, a base 12 and, inthe present instance, a threaded fixture stud 13. Thebase y12is formed with cams 14 for 'cooperationwith the tongues or depressions 5, and each cam is shown as being provided with ay locking notch 15.`

In connecting t-he parts together, the yoke 11 is passed through the aperture 4, and the bar 6. is extended through the yoke. During this assembling of the parts, the tongues or depressions are adjacent the low 4parts of the cams 14. yThe box is then :1djusted along the bar to the desired location and is then rotated in a direction to cause bar are bent at such an angle with respectV to its'body portion that the `yoke cannot be engaged over t-he end ot the bar and rmoved longitudinally ,to a central position thereon, the yoke may be provided with an opening 20, as indicated in Fig. 5, through which the bar may enter the lyokein a direction transversely ofthe bar. In all other yrespects the modilication shown in F ig. vis the saine as that :previously described. i

Having thus described my invention, what 'l claim is l. ln combination, an outlet box having an .aperture in one of its walls andtongues struck inwardly from said wall adjacent lthe aperture, a member comprised of al yoke that is adapted to be extended through s 'aid aperture and a ,baseV incorporatingarcuate cam -portions that arer substantially concentric with respect to theaxis of said member for cooperation with the aforesaid tongues whereby `,relative rotation between thermember and box for apa-rt of .a revolution will effect axial movement o-the member with respect to `the box, and a supporting bar adapted to be extended through the yoke and clamped to the box by said member.

2. `In combination, an outlet box having an aperture in-one of its walls andresilient tongues struck inwardly from said wall adjacent the aperture, a'meinbencomprised ,of a yoke that is y adapted to be extended through saidaperture and a base incorporating arcuate cam portions that are substantially concentric with respect to the axis Vof said member for cooperation with the aforesaid tongues whereby relative rotation be- .tween the memberl and box for a part of a revolution will eiiect axial movement oi' the memberwvith respect to the box, and a supporting baradapted to be extended through the yoke and clamped to the box by said member, said cam portions being provided with locking notches into which `the ends of the tongues are adaptedpto engage for yieldingly maintaining the outlet box against vangular movement with lrespect to the member. v

3. In combination, a receptacle having` an apertureV in oneyo-f its Walls, a member having a part that is adapted to be freely ex- Vtended throughsaid aperture or'holding engagement with and for adjustment along a supporting bar, the receptacle being rotatable upon said -member and having therewith relatively yieldable parts co-acting to create axial movement of the member with create axial movement of the vmember with.

respectto the receptacle upon relative rotation .between the receptacle and said member whereby, upon a partial rotation of thereceptaele" with -respect to the member, the rreceptacle will be clamped against thebar with the yieldable parts under tension, said parts serving,also, to maintain the receptacle in a given angular, relationto the. mem?V ber. f

5. combination, a receptacle having an aperture in one of its walls and depressions `adjacent said aperture,4 a member having a yoke that-is adapted to beitreely vextended through lsaid aperture andV cam portions .for cooperation with said depressions whereby relative rotation bet-weenthe member and thefreceptacle will effect axial movement of the'member with Vrespect -toV the receptacle, and a supporting bar adapted to .be extended through the yoke and clamped to the Vreceptacle through the intervention of said member by a Ypartial. rotation of the receptacle with vrespect to the member. 1 6. In combination, an'outlet box having an aperture in one of its walls Iand 4depressions adjacent said aperture, a member comprised of a yoke adapted to be extended through said aperture and a rbase incorporating cam portions for cooperation with said depressions whereby relative rotation 'between the member and box will effect axial rmovement of the member with respect to the box, and a supportingbar adapted to be extended through the yoke and ,clamped to the box through the intervention of the yoke by rotating the box a part ot a revolution with respect lto said member, the base being lprovided with .locking parts wherewith the depressions are adapted to co-aet for holding the box and memberin a given position against relative rotation.

7. In combination, an-outlet box having an aperture in one of its walls and resilient tongues depressed from said wall adjacent the aperture, a member c-omprisedfot ayoke that is adapted to be extended through said CII aperture and a base incorporating cam porintervention of the yoke by rotating the box tions Yfor cooperation with said tongueswherea. part of a revolution with respect to said by relative rotation between the member and member, the cam portions having locking 10 box will effect axial movement of the memnotches for the reception of said tongues.

5 ber with respect to the box, and a supporting In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my bnr adapted to be extended through the signature. yoke and clamped to the box through the n JOSEPH KOZELKA. 

